Clothes tree



June-25, 19,29 J. s. HoFFMlRE 1.718.691

CLOTHES TREE Filed April 27, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 25, '1929. y J.s. Hon-'MIRE 1315x691 CLOTHES TREE Filed April 27, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented June 25, 1929.

UNHTED STATES JOHN t5. HOFFMIRE, OF AUBURN, NEW YORK.

CLOTHES TREE.

Application filed April 2'?,

rlhis invention relates to certain improvements in clothestrees; and thenature and obje of the invention will be readily recognized andunderstood by those skilled in the art in the light of the following'explanations and detailed description of the accompanying drawingsillustrating what I at present consider to be the preferred embodimentsor mechanical expressions of my invention, from among` various otherforms, ari'angementsy combinations, and eonstructions of which theinvention is capable within the spirit and the scope thereof.

lu those types of olothestrees or driers characterized by a verticalstandard or mast having; vertially spaced sets or series of radiallydisposed arms extending horizontally from the standard or column andpivotally mounted at the inner ends thereof for vertical swinn'imrmovement upwardly and inwardly to folded positions along and adjacentthe standard or mast, the pivotal 4mounting` and the desired retentionor holding of the arms in their extended and in their inwardly foldedpositions, presents certain dilliculties and problems from aniechanical, as well asfrom a manufacturing and assembly standpoint. insecuring` the required characteristics of low cost, mechanicalsimplicity with emciency and durability in use. 'lhe present inventionis directed to and holds as an ohiect. a design, construction, and arrangement of mounting' for such swingrable clothes-tree arms on and froma standard or mast in which meclninical simplicity with etliciency inoperation and use is secured, while retaining the desiredcharacteristics of ready manufacture and assembly at low cost to permitof practical quantity production.

Another object of the invention is to provide a design and constructionof mounting1 for series of pivotally mounted radially disposed andvertically swinnable clothestree arms.` in which the arms are maintainedunder continuous yielding tension or pressure resist-ine` swinging;movements thereof and maintaininn the arms in the desired positions towhich swung.

Jinother object of the invention resides in providing' a series ofradially disposed arms 'for a clothes-tree or the like which arepivotally mounted at their inner ends for vertically ewi movements7 witha series springs disposed under tenof expansion 1927. Serial No.186,930.`

sion acting laterally upon the inner ends of the arms to resistswingingV movement thereof and assist in maintaining the arms at thevarious positions to which they are swung.

Another object of the invention is to provide a supporting member or hubfor mounting` a series of clothes-tree or the like arms thereonextending radially therefronl, with the hub forming' and providingrsupports for pivotally mountine' and receiving the inner ends of thearms for swinging' the arms vertically thereon to and from extended andvertically disposed or folded positions.

A 'further object of the invention is to provide a supigiorting memberor hub for mounting a series of clothes-trre or the like arms thereonextending radially therefrom, with a series of spaced supports on andbctween which the inner ends of the arms are pivotally mounted forvertical swinging' of the arms, and to further provide siin'ingi membersbetween and yieldably exerting pressure laterally upon the inner ends otthe arms to resist swinging thereof and assist in mainw taining the armsin various positions to which they are swung.

A further object of the invention is to provide a supporting' member forpivotally mounting a series of elothestrce or the like arms thereonextending radially therefrom for vertical swinging movement of the armsthereon, with expansion spring` assemblies carried by and on the pivotsou` which the inner ends of the arms are mounteifl yieldahly exertingpressure laterally of the arms to resist swinging; movements thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a supportingmember or hub for pivotally receiving' and mounting; a series ofclothes-tree or the like arms thereon e):- tendinn' radially therefromfor vertical swinging movemei'itsj which member or hub formed of twoparts andv readily assembleifl with the inner ends of the arms and theirpivotal mounting' assemblies. the entire design and constructirm beingcapable of low cost manufacture and assembly to `form an etlieientand'durable arm unit in operation and use.

`With the foregoing `general objects, and certain other objects andresults in' view which will be readily appreciated from the following`efqplanation9 the invention consists in certain novel features inconstruction and CJI , Cai

in combinations and arrangements of parts and elements as will be morefully and particularly referred to and specified hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which similar referencecharacters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several figuresthereof.

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a clothes-treo or drier embodyingthe features of the invention, with the upper series or cluster of armsextended for use, andthe lower series or clusters' swung vertically tofolded, inoperative position along and adjacent the standard or mast ofthe clothestree.

Fig. 2 is a view in top plan Vof a supporting member or hub unit andarms thereon in extended position swung outwardly there- :trom anddisposedradially therearound.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the supporting member or hub unitofFig. 2 with the arms in vertically disposed or folded position, andshowing in top plan the mounting and arrangement of the pivot pins andspring assemblies `for the arms in mounted position..

Fig. 4 is a bottom pla-n or interior view of the upper or cap member ofthe supporting member or hub unit, showing the arm slots and dependinglugs or abutments for maintaining the spring assemblies and arm pivotpins `in mounted assembled position.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the lower or base member of thearmsupporting or hub unit, showing the spaced segmental standardstherearound, on and between which the inner ends of the arms arepivotally mounted and supported.

Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2,through the arm supporting or hub unit with the arms in verticallydisposed or folded position, and showing a manner of mounting andsecuring the unit to the clothes-tree or drier mast.

. A clothes-tree or drier of the general type to which the inventionhereof is particularly applicable is disclosed in Fig. 1 of theaccompanying drawings, with the arm supporting and mounting units orhubs of the invention mounted thereon and incorporated therein, but itis to be understood that the various features of the invention are notlimiefl or restricted to the disclosed embodiments thereof, or to use onand in connection with the type of clothes-tree or drier shown, as theinvention may talre other forms and is of general applica-tion and useto and on other types of devices for mounting a series or cluster ofarms for swinging movements, wherever desired or found expedient.l andthe invention contemplates and includes such other forms andapplications thereof.

ln the example of an application and use of the invention as shown inFig. 1, a clothes-tree or drier is provided of the type embodying a base10 supported upon the legs l1 having the rollers or casters l2 to permit-of easily moving the clothes-Hw to any desired location. A mast 14 ispreferably, although not necessarily. rotatably mounted in and supportedon a fitting or socket l5 carried by the base jl() centrally thereof,with the mast 14 disposed vertically and extending upwardly from thebase, as will be clear by reference to Fig. 1. At vertically spacedintervals on and along mast la, clusters` or groups of arms or articlesupports 1G are mounted with the arms of each group spaced around thcmast and pivotally mounted on horizontal axes for vertical swingingmovement to positions horiztmtally and radially cxtcndcd from tlu` mast,as shown by the uppcr clustcr or oroup of arms 1G in Fig. l, or tofolded positions inwardly to and vertically disposed along the mast 14,as shown by the lower clusters or groups of arms in Fig. l. An armsupporting unit or hub 2() is provided for cach group or cluster of thearms 16, which units or hubs are suitably mounted and lixcd on the mast14e at properly spaced points thcrcalo-ng to permit upward swinging ofthc arms lG thcrcon to folded position. lt is those arm supporting unitsor hubs 2() to which thc present invention is particularly directed andrelates.

These arm supporting units or hubs .20 in the exampl` hereof aresimilar, and rofcrring now to Figs. 2 to G inclusive, cach conlprises ahase or lower plate menlbor 2l of circular crm having a central or axialboro or aperture 22 therethrough with a downwardly or outwardlyextending collar 23 from the base surroulnling such borc. 'l`hc base.member 2l is formed and providcd with a series of spaced, verticallydisposed segmental standards or supports 2l thoroarouud, adjacent butspaced inwardly a distance from the outer or peripheral cdgc thereof.which standards .24 arc. in thc present instance, cast or otherwiseformed integral with the base mcmbcr. Those sogniental standards 24 arcot substantially triangular form in cross-section, (see Figs. El and 5)with the bases thereof disposed at and forming thc outer or front sidesor walls of the standards. and substantially disposed in a circlepassing therethrough concentric with the peripheral cdgc of thc base 2l,although not so limited. A series of arms 1G arc mounted between thespaced standards Qt and extending radially and outwardly from the baseQl with ther inner ends of the arms terminating spaced inwardly from thecentral boro Q2 through the base` (see Fig. 2). The inner end ot eacharm 16 is mounted bearing and disposed laterally against a side wall 2lof an adjacent lil.)

llo

lili

all)

kil

standard 2i, which standard side wall lies in a plane so disposed thatwith an arm 1G thereagainst, the longitudinal axis ot the arm i'ornisand lies along` a radius ott the base, as will be clear by reference toFigs. 2 and 3 ot' the drawings.

The. arms 1.6 are pivotally n'iounte 1 on horizontal axes disposedbetween the spaced standards 524i t'or vertical swinging movement of thearms to vertically disposed posi- Jtion extending?r ujgnvardly from thebase, as shown by Figs. 3 and t5, and thispivotal mounting' ot the innerends of 'the arm 1 6 :is accomplished :in the example hereof by .meansof pivot pins 25 disposed transversely of the inner ends otl the armsand extended laterally from opposite sides thereot across and supportedat their opposite ends o1E Athe adjacent standards Q11. The upper endsoit' the standards 241 are formed with the alined transversely disposedtr1-ooves t into which the ends of the pivot pins 25 ot the arms lo tit.lite'ferringr now to Figs, 3 and in pa"- ticular, it will be. noted thateach standard 2st is 'Formed and carries `two o'l" the pivot pinreceiving' grooves QGidisposed at an angle to each other with one otthese grooves alined with the corresponding `groove o1" the standard atone de thereof, and the other ot these grooves aline/l with the.corresponding' groove ot the standard at the ojjrposite. side thereof.By this arrangement, each arm 16 is pivotalliy niounted and supported onand .between the adjacent spaced standards 24 by means ot a pivot pin 25supported on and between these standards in the alined `grooves 26thereof, respectively, and is swingable vertically on the pivot pin toand from radialiy extended and ujnvardly disposed or 'folded positions.Due to the angular position ot the pins with respect to each other in`grooves 2G, with each pin end bearing' agaiiist, or in j noxiniity tothe adjacent pin on a standard Q11, the pins are locked or contined inposition against longitudinal nioven'ient or displacement, as clearlyshown by Fig. 3 of the drziiwings.

1n order to maintain the arm 1G in position bearing against thel liacesor side walls 2241- ot the adjacent standards 24:, respecively, and inorder to subject the arms to ieldable pressures acting iaterally thereonor assisting in maintaining' the arms in the positions to which swung,the invention pro- 'i'ides sp1-ine' assemblies mounted on and carried bythe pivot pins 25. In the tpeciiic exampie hereof, these spring;asseinbiies each comprise a coiled expansion spring' 27 having suits blespring end containing' centrally apertured piates or washers 28 at andon opposite ends thereof between which the sii. 'ng extends. Thesespringl assemblies so rmed are mounted over and disposed on each armpivot pin 25 between the side ot the arm 16 opposite that engagingstandard .tiinumisly maintained under lateral pressure tendine' toresist swinging` movements oi" the arms, while maintaining the arms inproper position against the standard side walls 251, by permitting treevert-ical swinging movements oit these arms.

Each base 2l with the arms assembled and pivotally mounted and disposedthereon and therein as'alfiove described, is completed by an uppermember or cap 30 to toi-n.1 the arm supporting' units or hubs 2t). Thesecaps 3() are 'termed with a central or axial bore Bl therethrinttrh of adia-meter substantially equal to the diameter of the bore 22 of base 2land with a side wall 212 extending therefrom and curving into the capbody. A cap 30 is .fitted over and down onto a hub base 2l with the basefitting up into and received by the side wall 32, as is clearly shown byFie'. G ot the drawings. The curved portion ot lthe cap joining the sidewalt thereoic tits over and across the upper enos ot the arm mountingstandards 24:, closing` the grooves therein and conlining' the arm pivotpins against displacement. A series of radial arm receiving' slots 33are formed through the cap 3() ilor receivingr and through which thearms 16 swingrably extend to permit oi" vertical lnoveinents thereoi.'to and from extended and Folded positions. Between the arin receiving;1slots 213 on the under or inner sides o1' the cap top wall, a seriesoil. dcpendingij lugs or abutments 214. are provided which in nunintedassembled position ot the cap on the base, lie over and above thesprings 27 with pivot pins to prevent upward ,lisp1ace1nent oli thespring a'n inblies trom proper mounted position with the pivot pins 25.Any suitable or desired bolts or the liliie 35 are provideifl forsecuring the cap 30 to the base Q1. these boite extending` downwardlythrough the cap and the base as will be clear by reference to Fig'. G otthe drawings in particular.

r1l`he arm supporting units or hubs 20 with the ar ns 1.6 mounted andassembled thereon and maintainei'l in position by the cap 3G boltedthereto, with the cap bore 31 in vertical alinonient with the base bore22, is mounted and secured in the desired position on the clothes-treewith the mast 14 extending through and received by the alined base andcap bores. A unit or hub f2() is fastened and secured in the desiredposition on mast 14 by means of screws or the like 36 extendingtransversely through the base collar 23 into and engaging the mast i4.as shown particularly by Figs. 1 and G of the drawings. Any desiredmunber of the arm carrying and supporting units or hubsQO can be mountedat spaced intervals on the mast l-Ll so as to leave sufhcient spacetherebetween to permit of swinging the arms vertically upwardly to'folded positions along and ad- `jacent the mast, as will be readilyunderstood. The clothes-tree or drier thus formed and-constructed iscapable of storage or location in restricted spaces by swinging all thearms thereof upwardly into folded position along and adjacent the treem'ast, while these arms can be swung downwardly to horizontally disposedpositions extending radially from the .mast when it is desired to usethetree. If desired, the"groups or clusters of the arms 16 can bearranged on the mast so that the arms of each group are staggered withrespect to the arms of the` groups thereabove and therebelow.

The design and construction of the arm supporting units or hubs 20,formed of the base 2l and the cap 30 is such that the arms and thespring assemblies can be quicklyf mounted and assembled therein andsecured in assembled position by mounting a cap 3() therewith andthereon in the manner hereinbefore described. The 'formation of the base21 of each unitor hub 2O permits of casting or otherwise forming thisbase with the arm supporting standards 24 integral therewith as a partthereof, to thereby eliminate the necessity of adding additionalelements or pa rts thereto, as well as eliminating any finishing'operations on these parts cast with the base after removal thereof fromthe mold. Similarly, the cap members 3() of these units can be castcomplete without the necessity of adding elements thereto or finishingthe same before mounting on and assembly with the base. For the.foregoing reasons and other obvious ones, the arm supporting units orhubs 2O are capable of low cost production and rapid assembly andmounting on and to a clothes-tree or drier mast or the like element.

Preferably, although not so limited, stops :29 are provided on the base29 between the standards 24, atv the outer edge of the base, and in linewith the arms 1G, so that the outer edges or sides of the inner ends ofthese arms engage the stops in folded, vertically disposed position ofthe arms, as will be clear from Fig. 5 of the drawings in connectionwith Fig. 6. The arms 16 are preferably cut away or notched on theirouter edges or faces (not shown) to receive the b u l n u stops .intoldedfposition and, thus insure proper positioningr of the arms infolded position, as will kbe readily understood.

In operation and use on a clothes-tree or drier of one of tbc arm unitsor hubs 20, the arms are maintained under continuous lateral pressure ortension by the springs ZT so that swinging movement of the arm on thepivot pins 25 is resisted and the arms` in their verticallv disposedfolded positions are maintained against accidental displacement. Thearms are upwardly swingablc on the pivot pins 25 and the stops 2*.) onthe base 2l are engaged by the inner ends thcrcol' to limit upward orfolding movements of the arms, while the downward extended movements ofthe arms are limited, and the arms are maintained in extended positions,by the undersurfzufe of the cap 'lll engaged thereby.

It is also evident that various other changes, variations, substitutionsand modii'ations might be resorted to without departing from the spiritand the scope of m v invention. and hence I do not wish to limit myselfto the exact and specific disclosures hereof.

Desiring to protect my invention in th:I broadest manner legallypossible, what I claim. is:

l. In a clothes-tree arm supporting unit, a base, spaced standardstherein-ouml having their upper ends slotted, arms dir-posed with theirinner ends between said .slandards, pivot pins disposedI transversely ofthe arms between and supported in the slotted upper ends of thestandards for pivotally mountinj` the arms on the hase. and a cap memberhaving a depending flange theraround secured over said base and havingslots tlurethrough. lsaid cap disposi-.l ovel and closing the slottedupper cnds of the standards and confining the pivot pins on the upperends of the standards against, displacement. the slots in said capmember being out of alinement with the slotted upper ends of thestandards.

2. In a clothes-tree arm supporting unil. a base, a series of spacedstandards thereon, pivot pins extending acrossl and between saidstandards, arms mounted on said pins between the standards for swingingrmovement, spring` assemblies mounted on said pins for exertingcontinuous pre-sure laterally on the arms, and a` cap mounted ou thebase over said standards, the lsaid cap being formed with slots throughwhich the arms swingably extend, and members depending from said capdisposed over said spring assemblies. respectively, to preventdisplacement of the assemblies and pivot pins on which said assembliesare mounted.

3. In a clothes-tree arm supporting unit, a base, a series of spacedstandards` disposed around the base extending up 'ardly therefrom, theuplV er ends of adjacent standards oli Elll

lllf) llll formed with alined grooves thcreacross, a pivot pin disposedacross adjacent standards and supported at its opposite ends in thealined grooves thereof, an arm swingablj' nlonnted on each of said pivotpins and extending from the base, an engatnsion spring' for eacharm'mounted on each pivot pin under compression between the arm and anadjacent standard, and a cap mounted over the base, said cap being`provided with depending portions confining;1 said. pins and sjiiringsagainst displacement, the said cap formed with radial slots forswingabljv receivingand through which said arms extend. Y

1l. .ln a clothestree arm supporting1 unit, a base member', a series ofspaced standards extending` therefrom and. disposed. therearound, theupper ends of adjacent standards formed with alined grooves across theouter ends thereof, pivot pins disposed across and between adjacentstandards supported at their opposite ends in the alined groovesthereof, respectively, a coiled e-1- pansion spring' n'iounted on eachpivot pin between. the adjacent standards, an arm swingably mounted oneach pin between an end of said spring` and an adjacent standard withthe spring under compression and continuously exerting lateral pressureon and forcing' the arm against such standard, and a cap mounted overthe base and formed with radial slots therethrough receiving and throughwhich the pivotally mounted arms extend for swinging movement therein,said cap extending over and across the slots in the standards, anddepending members on thelcap positioned over said springs preventing,ldisplacement thereof with the pins.

5. In. a cl0thes-tree arm supporting unit,

a base, a series of upwardly extending. standards dsjiosed aroimd thebase, the upper ends of adjacent standards being` formed with aiinedgrooves thereacross, the grooves on each standard disposed at an angleto and intersecting each other, pivot pins disposed across and betweenadjacent standards, respectively, supported at their opposite ends inthe alined groovesthereof, an arm swinggably n'iounted on each pivotbetween the standards and extending outwardly from the base, and eachpivot con lined between and against longitudinal displacement from itssupporting grooves by the adjacent pins extending across the endsthereof on the respective standards.

6. in a clothes-tree arm supporting unit, a base, a series of standardsspaced, around and extending; from the base with their upper endsslotted, said standards formed with grooves therein at the inner ends ofthe slots, arms disposed with their' inner ends between adjacentstandards, resjjiectively, pivot pins disposed transversely of the armsbetween and supported in the grooves at the inner ends of the slottedAupper ends of the stand ards, sjiiring assemblies on each pin betweenthe arm thereon and an adjacent standard for exerting,1 lateral pressureon the arm, a cap having a flange therearound mounted on the base oversaid standard across the slotted upper ends thereof, and depending'members on said cap disposed over said spring assemblies, respectively,to prevent disjiilacement of the assemblies and pivot pins.

Signed at Auburn, New York, this l-tth day of April, 1927.

JOHN S. HOFFMIRE.

